It has grown to be one of the most requisite utensils in modern medicine. Cannulas administer drugs, supplementary fluids, and various treatments to patients on routine and emergency grounds.
Because they are flexible and have a wide variety of uses, cannulas are almost a standard tool in every health facility today. In this blog, we introduce you to the many types and uses they are presented with today and why they are indispensable in medical practice today.
What is a Cannula?
A cannula is a tiny tube inserted within the body. It is inserted into any vein or vessel through which fluid or medication navigates.
These tubes can be made of plastic, silicon, or metal, depending on their use. There are different sizes for cannulas, meant for various uses; this is made such that they may cause minimum pain, thereby reducing discomfort to the patient.
Types of Cannulas
There are a variety of cannulas, each for a specific medical purpose. The most common types include:
1. Intravenous (IV) Cannulas:
Purpose: IV cannulas are the most used. They are inserted into a vein with the purpose of delivering fluids, medications, or nutrients directly into the bloodstream.
Usage: These are used in hospitals, clinics, and even in-home care for patients who require long-term treatment.
2. Nasal Cannulas:
Purpose: A nasal cannula is used for the delivery of oxygen to patients requiring supplemental oxygen.
Usage: These are typically used for patients with chronic respiratory conditions or in urgent situations, such as in emergency rooms or during surgery.
3. Arterial Cannulas:
Purpose: These cannulas are inserted into an artery, mainly when the need arises for indications such as monitoring blood pressure in real-time or withdrawing blood samples.
Usage: These are used mainly in critical health situations, especially in ICUs during and after essential surgeries.
4. Venous Cannulas:
Purpose: Larger cannulas are usually applied in indications like dialysis and need to process significant amounts of blood.
Usage: This is mainly used for patients who need kidney dialysis or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
5. Central Venous Cannulas:
Purpose: To supply medicines or fluids to the patient that need to reach the heart in the shortest time possible.
Usage: It is inserted through large veins, usually the jugular or femoral vein, and is commonly used in intensive care or during surgeries.
How Is Cannula Used?
Cannulas are used for many different purposes, from essential day patient care to massive surgery. Insertion of the cannula is referred to as cannulation. Here is a summary of some common uses of cannulas:
1. Fluids and Medications Administration:
Cannulas are hooked onto the vein to infiltrate fluids and drugs intravenously in hospitals. This method is fast and ensures proper treatment dispensing in the blood.
2. Blood Sampling :
The cannula provides easy access for withdrawing blood samples, especially in patients who might require frequent sampling. It is quite helpful in all ICUs where the patient’s blood parameters need to be monitored on a regular basis.
3. Oxygen Therapy:
Nasal cannulae also play a vital role in oxygen therapy, enabling the patient to maintain the required level of oxygen in their body. This is an essential factor for a patient suffering from COPD or any other respiratory disorder.
4. Operational Procedures:
Cannulas deliver anaesthesia, fluids, and medication during surgeries and help monitor the patient’s condition.
5. Dialysis:
Venous cannulas filter blood outside the body and return it after it has been cleaned of waste products. They are used in dialysis for patients suffering from renal failure.
Benefits of Using Cannulas
With cannula usage in medial practice for patient care, there is an addition of advantages resultant from their use. Such include:
1. Minimally Invasive:
These cannulas are made to be gentle and reduce the patient’s discomfort as much as possible. Their small size and flexibility make it easy to insert them with minor damage to the surrounding tissue.
2. Effective Delivery of the Treatment:
Cannulas presents a practical path for introducing medication into the body, whether through medication, dispensing fluids, or oxygen. They are most useful in life-or-death situations when minutes count.
3. Versatility:
Cannulas come in various sizes and types, cooperative with each patient’s needs and allowing them to be used for all medical procedures, from simple blood tests to complex surgery.
4. Reduced Risk of Infection:
Modern cannulas are designed with safety in mind. Many are fitted with attributes such as needle guards to avoid needlestick injuries and infections.
5. Ease of Use:
Cannulas are relatively easy to insert and secure, making them helpful and convenient for medical staff in rush-hour situations.
Challenges and Considerations
While there are many advantages to using cannulas, there are also a couple of disadvantages in using a cannula:
1. Difficulties Regarding Insertion:
Sometimes, the insertion of a cannula becomes painful for patients with very small or collapsed veins. Thus, this may involve multiple attempts and can be painful for the patient.
2. Complications:
Besides this, cannula use can be related to infections, phlebitis, and air embolism, though this is rare. Each of the above-mentioned adverse factors can be minimised through proper training and good technique.
3. Patient Discomfort:
Some people find cannula insertions painful, especially if the cannula is to remain within the body for an extended period.
4. Care and Maintenance:
Clearly, cannulas need constant caution and care to keep them in a perfect state: watching for possible infections, maintaining the cannula at the site of insertion, and replacing it when necessary.
Conclusion
The cannula has become an essential part of modern care. They are representative of a harmless, effective, and versatile mode of treatment and observation. Cannulas are used for various treatments, like oxygen therapy and dialysis, making them essential in almost every healthcare facility.
With medicine and technology constantly advancing, cannulas’ design and functionality are already quite advanced and will get even better. They’re getting better in terms of design and functionality as medicine itself advances through new technologies. There is no doubt that they will remain a crucial part of patient care for many years to come.
